Tran Van Giau - the journey from revolutionary to scientific research career: The illustrious revolutionary (Part 1)

The history of the Vietnamese revolution in the early days of the country's founding always has interesting stories, scientists and intellectuals gave up a rich and luxurious life to join the revolution, follow the revolution such as Phan Anh, Ta Quang Buu, Vu Dinh Hoe, Tran Dai Nghia,... On the contrary, famous revolutionaries, for one reason or another, turned to the path of science and became great scientists such as Tran Huy Lieu, Tran Van Giau,... Among these special figures, perhaps Tran Van Giau is the most special because he once held important positions but when he changed direction, he achieved many successes in his scientific career.

Lesson 1: The famous revolutionary

Professor, revolutionary Tran Van Giau

Professor, People's Teacher, Labor Hero Tran Van Giau was born on September 11, 1911, in An Luc Long commune, Chau Thanh district, Tan An province (now An Luc Long commune, Tay Ninh province). At the age of 17, he went to France to study according to his family's wishes with the goal before leaving to obtain two degrees of Doctor of Law and Doctor of Literature, then return to the country to open a law office and write articles to fight for justice.

He joined the French Communist Party in 1929 at the age of 18, while a student in France, and was one of the first Communist Party members in 1930.

He held the positions of Secretary of the Southern Regional Party Committee and Chairman of the Southern Resistance Committee. During more than 80 years of revolutionary activities, he made many contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation; he was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the Ho Chi Minh Prize, the First Class Independence Medal, the Labor Hero, the 80-year Party membership badge and many other noble medals and orders by the Party and the State.

In 1930, the Yen Bai uprising in the country was drowned in blood by the French colonialists. Not only did they execute 13 leading revolutionaries, but they also arrested and terrorized them everywhere. At that time, as a student studying in Toulouse (France), Tran Van Giau could not sit still. He went to Paris to participate in a protest in front of the French Presidential Palace and was arrested and deported back to Vietnam with the charge of being a "dangerous element to the regime" in June 1930.

Tran Van Giau when he participated in a demonstration in Paris (1930) and was expelled back to Vietnam by France.

In late 1930, Tran Van Giau secretly joined the Indochinese Communist Party and just one year later, he was sent by the Party to study at the Oriental University in the Soviet Union, which trained cadres for colonial peoples. He graduated from the Oriental University with a thesis on "The Land Problem in Indochina"; upon returning home, he was in charge of training cadres for the Party.

According to Tran Van Giau's statement under the name Ho Nam, he was arrested on April 19, 1935 on Verdun Street (later Le Van Duyet Street, later part of Vo Thi Sau Street today - NV) while writing propaganda documents for International Labor Day on May 1. He was then sentenced to 10 years in prison and exiled and imprisoned in the most notorious prisons.

In prison, he turned the prison into a revolutionary school to propagate communism. The French prison guards respectfully called him “red professor”. Many prisoners who attended this special class later became famous revolutionaries such as Ton Duc Thang, Pham Van Dong, Le Duc Tho,...

In 1941, Tran Van Giau and his comrades escaped from Ta Lai prison to participate in directing the movement that suffered great losses after the Nam Ky Uprising. In 1943, he was elected Secretary of the Nam Ky Regional Party Committee. During the urgent days with the seething atmosphere of preparing to seize power in Saigon and the South, Tran Van Giau became a talented and courageous "conductor".

On August 19, 1945, the August Revolution succeeded in Hanoi. At this time, in the South, seizing the opportunity, in his position as Secretary of the Regional Party Committee, Tran Van Giau convened an expanded Regional Party Committee Conference to discuss the uprising. The conference decided to choose Tan An province (his hometown) as a pilot to seize power to gain experience and launch the uprising throughout the South and elected him as Chairman of the Uprising Committee.

He chose his hometown - Tan An - as the place to launch the struggle to seize power in the South. August 25, 1945 went down in history because that was the day the people of Saigon and almost all the provinces in the South gained power after more than 80 years of colonial and fascist domination. The prestigious and talented "conductor" was appointed to hold the highest position in the government in the South: Chairman of the Provisional Administrative Committee of the South.

On September 2, 1945, along with half a million compatriots in the capital Hanoi, millions of compatriots in the South gathered at a large rally in Saigon (now Tao Dan Park) to listen to the recording of the Declaration of Independence read by President of the Provisional Government Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi. Due to various reasons, the compatriots in the South could not hear Uncle Ho's words. Assigned by the Organizing Committee, Tran Van Giau improvised a speech.

According to Dr. Phan Van Hoang, in the beginning, Tran Van Giau announced a major change in the history of the country after the August Revolution: “Vietnam has gone from a colony to an independent country. Vietnam has gone from an empire to a republic. Vietnam is moving forward on the path of life”. However, the revival of the nation is being threatened by the enemy: “The enemy is plotting a plot to put an end to the yoke of slavery on the necks of 25 million compatriots... We have obtained solid evidence that they intend to use force to suddenly overthrow the democratic republican government to restore a governor general as before”. He also advised his compatriots to be vigilant: “Celebrate the victory, but do not be intoxicated by the victory. Because our beloved Vietnam is facing a dangerous situation. If we are not careful, our country and our people may be put back into the yoke of slavery”. Tran Van Giau asked the attendees: “Is there anyone here who recognizes a mandarin ruling our country? Is there anyone willing to give up and let the colonial regime - openly or secretly - return?”

After each of his questions, millions of people responded in unison: "No! No! No!" resounding throughout the sky... The speech ended with a call: "Citizens, be ready to fight!... Stand up! Independence Day begins now! Forward, for independence, for freedom, forward forever! No fortress can stop the will of the people on the path to liberation!".

On September 23, 1945, the French colonialists, hiding behind the British army, opened fire and invaded our country once again; Tran Van Giau once again became the one to bear the brunt of the responsibility as Chairman of the Southern Resistance Committee. In Saigon, on the morning of September 23, 1945, he issued a call for Southern resistance, famous as a proclamation:

Southern compatriots, People of Saigon city,

Workers, youth, militia, militia, soldiers!

Last night, the French colonialists captured our government headquarters in the center of Saigon. Thus, France began to invade our country once again.

On September 2, our compatriots vowed to sacrifice every last drop of blood to protect the independence of the Fatherland.

Independence or death!

Today

The Resistance Committee called for

All compatriots, old, young, men and women, take up arms and charge forward to fight off the invaders.

Anyone who does not have a duty assigned by the Resistance Committee must leave the city immediately. Those who remain must:

- Do not work or serve in the French army.

- No guidance, no information, no selling of food to the French.

Find the French colonialists and destroy them. Burn and destroy all French facilities, vehicles, ships, warehouses, and factories.

Saigon occupied by the French had to become a Saigon without electricity, without water, without markets, without shops.

Fellow countrymen!

From this moment on, our top priority is to destroy the French invaders and their henchmen.

Soldiers, militia, and self-defense brothers! Hold your weapons tightly in your hands and charge forward to drive out the French colonialists and save the country. The resistance war has begun!

Morning of September 23, 1945./.

CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHERN RESISTANCE COMMITTEE

(to be continued)

Vu Trung Kien

Final Lesson: Becoming a Famous Scientist

Source: https://baolongan.vn/tran-van-giau-hanh-trinh-tu-nha-cach-mang-den-su-nghiep-nghien-cuu-khoa-hoc-nha-cach-mang-lay-lung-bai-1--a201355.html